mustwarnorcas

Hey all so I'm currently on a road trip up to Yosemite and my jeep has begun leaking an oil/fluid. The trans, front diff, driveshaft, and front control arms are coated with this fluid. I can't really pinpoint where it's coming from. Anyone have any ideas or advice?

tacklebox

Power steering fluid?

mustwarnorcas

hmmm could be, I feel like it has been whining a bit more than usual recently

Batman33165

check the level of your liquids, another way to see what is low

Superslow

The power steering is under a lot pressure and if it is leaking it should be noticeable while the motor is running. The transmission cooling lines are under a lot less pressure and might only leak while it's running and in gear.

mustwarnorcas

ok I have noticed it seems to only leak while running. So that would mean it's leaking transmission fluid?

BlueRidgeMark

No, that would mean it might be leaking transmission fluid.

The only way to tell for sure is to find the leak.


Eyeballs, flashlight, and crawling underneath while it's running.

No shortcuts. Just good old fashioned work.

mustwarnorcas

I've been under there. Just wanted to confirm the transmission cooler uses trans fluid so I can buy more trans fluid on this trip. Gonna give her a good looking over when we get in to camp tonight

BlueRidgeMark

The transmission pumps fluid from the trans through the trans cooler. It doesn't "use" transmission fluid. It is the transmission's fluid.

It's low pressure, though. If you find a section is rusted out, you can just cut out the rusted section and replace it with rubber transmission hose secured by a hose clamp on each end. Use a mini tubing cutter, NOT any kind of saw blade. You don't want to create any metal particles that will destroy your transmission.

If you have a single pinhole leak, as a temporary measure you can sometimes take a short section of trans hose (like 2") and slit it down the side. Place it over the pinhole leak and put a clamp right over the hose where the leak is. Usually stops it.

If it's rusting in one spot, though, it's rusting elsewhere. Time to replace it.